Dec 25, 2022

EFI holiday email thanks farmworkers

During the 2022 Christmas and New Year’s holidays, the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) is reminding supporters and other grower-shippers to thank their farmworkers.

In a December email newsletter entitled “Gratitude, Gingerbread and Giving Back,” the farmworker support organization asked the industry to pay gratitude to those who harvest fruits and vegetables. EFI also thanked its supporters.

“This Holiday Season, Thank a Farmworker,” EFI said in the release. “Express your gratitude this holiday season by giving thanks for the hardworking farmworkers responsible for the fruits and vegetables that grace your holiday table.”

EFI requests shoppers look for the EFI Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured label at their local retailers and know their holiday dinners are brought to them by growers committed to quality and responsibly grown produce, EFI stated in the release.

“During this season of celebrations, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the hardworking farmworkers, the conscious farming operators, and YOU, the supporters of responsibly grown EFI-certified brands!,” EFI stated in the mailing.

When shoppers seek out the fresh fruit and vegetable brands that have been certified to EFI’s high standards, consumers support a commitment to fair labor practices and safer and healthier working conditions, according to the release.

In the mailing, EFI featured a recipe from partner Domex Superfresh Growers. Apple gingerbread skillet cookie will add a fun twist to the holiday classic, according to EFI.

By the numbers, EFI reports these impacts over the recent years:

• 57,000 acres of EFI-certified farms,
• 400 million plus pounds of certified produce sold to participating retailers,
• 14 million dollars in farmworker bonuses,
• 52 certified locations, and
• 56,000 farmworkers working on farms with EFI leadership teams

Participating growers and organizations include

• Alpine Fresh,
• Central West Produce,
• CMI Orchards,
• Good Farms,
• Homegrown Organic Farms,
• JV Smith Companies,
• Keystone Fruit Marketing,
• Misionero,
• NatureSweet Tomatoes
• Onions 52,
• Rainier Fruit,
• Rouge River Farms,
• Stemilt,
• Sunset/Mastronardi,
• Domex Superfresh Growers, and
• Windset Farms